Thursday, February 09, 2006
11:57 AM
It's finally begun. The end of this necessary 2-year evil is in sight, but two weeks into my ORD leave, I'm beginning to miss camp already. What I miss most about camp is literally, the camp itself; I've stayed in that camp for almost 2 years already, and I've shifted bunk 3 times already. Yes, I've stayed in 4 different bunks in my camp.
I'll just talk about what I miss most in the first bunk I stayed in, the bunk on the highest floor in 'SP' Coy.
I still remember the first day I moved into Mandai Hill Camp... I was the only one posted there. Having taken much effort to get to know my fellow (JC graduate) trainees in Signal Institute, and even succeeding in clicking rather well (I think) with them, I was rewarded by being separated from them, and thrust into a platoon full of poly birds whom I had a hard time getting comfortable with.
I miss the way one of my bunkmates always tries to ease you into a comfortable conversation by flexing his huge muscles (most people say he just looks hard on the outside, but is all soft and weak on the inside), and adopting a tone that seems to make you feel like he's trying to gain something out of you.
I miss the way another one tries to convince you that Network Marketing (nooo, not pyramid scheme ok) is a viable and lucrative way of getting rich, by spending lots of money in that product, and telling you about the financial and business theories when you ask him about his net revenue after almost one year in the business.
There's this guy who greets us every morning (when he wakes up) by nonchalently sticking his right hand into his pants. I once asked him what he was doing, and he just replied matter-of-factly 'oh, I adjusting my position mah'.
Then there's this guy who's always being terrorised by another guy who wants very badly to squeeze his nipples, day in day out. He's the movie buff who thinks that Troy was a good movie (it sucked big time... right?).
And then there's this 'king of porn' who's got a picture (just the face) of a certain Japanese porn star named Sally something in his handphone, who thinks that Hong Kong comics are far superior to Japanese manga.
I miss many of the funny people in camp that made army life bearable, but what I really miss most are the countless nights in camp where I spent reading the bible in bed or on the stairs, and talking to Him, trying to reason out and analyse my insecurities, my problems and my worries, and ultimately psyching myself to learn to rest it all on Him.
It was a most miserable time. I was lonely (back then I had some initially trouble fitting into my platoon) and depressed. And precisely because of that, it was the most wonderful time, because I had no one else to turn to, but Him. And there is much Comfort and Joy to be found from Him.
If I wanted to go back to being a signaller in 'SP' Coy again, it would only be because I wanted to go back to the 'honeymoon period' of my walk, where He hadn't allowed me to go through any REAL trials with REAL consequences yet, but only taught and guided me continually through the bible and other books, to build up my faith and Godly knowledge in preparation for some of the difficulties I'm facing these days.
...
Nevertheless, apart from some minor inconveniences (like being squeezed dry and exploited till my very last day by everyone by [1] being made to do duty on 2 weekends and Valentine's day in February, [2] having to go back during my last 4 days to help my understudy clear up any mess for the closing of the financial work year and [3] being made to go back to clear my SOC before I ORD to increas the unit's chances of winning the Best Unit Competition), this foretaste of freedom from national duty is awesome!
ORD LOH!
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5 comment)
Finally... A POST! Boy am I glad you're back in action.. Yea.. agree with you, the nastiest times I had are also soem of the most wonderful, when we turn to Him in complete surrender because we cimply don't know what's next and the whys and whats. Well, I'm sure the 'ordeals' made you grow up to be a more matured individual? Am I right? Haha.. Take care pal!
- WB
- WB
# posted by 
: 1:44 PM
: 1:44 PM
All at least 1-2 days later than me. 'cos I was the first to go in. And one poor sob who's going to ORD a few days, and 3 months later than me.
=)
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=)
# posted by : 8:27 AM
: 8:27 AM